Improvement in velocimeters



E. CRAWLEY.

f- Velocmeters. NO.\55,05. i Patented Oct. 6,1874.

THE supuse cn,PHuTo-L| 111.3914: PARK PucLN-Y- n 4Sheets-Sheet3. E. cRAwLYEY.

Velocimeters. N0.155,605. Patented oct. 6,1874.

@avana/116 01@ THE GRAPHIC CQPHOTOUTILQSLH PARK PL CE,N.Y,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EDVIN -CRAVLFQ OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JOHN It. DAVEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIMETERS.

Specitieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,605, dated October 6, 1874; application iiled i March 30, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN CRAWLEY, of the city of Newport, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and luseful Improve. ments in Velocimeters, of which the following is a specification:

The most important part of my invention consists in the combination of a cone or disk, revolved at a xed rate of speed, a screwshaft, and a sleeve or nut, whose position, in reference to the cone, varies with the speed of the machine or device whose velocity is to be measured, and, by means of an index-finger, indicates the velocities attained.

The second part of my invention consists of devices for registering these velocities and in dicating when they were attained, and consists of a new style of actuating-roller, which, aided by sul'iplemental devices, presents a sheet of paper to a marking-pointer affixed to the traveling-sleeve aforementioned.

The third part of my invention consists of a novel arrangement of clock-work for actuating the velociineter and its recording apparatus.

The fourth part of my invention consists of a novel style of actuatingpawl, in combination with my novel arrangement of clock-work, hereinafter described, whereby the ratchetwheels are operated, and the clock-work wound np.

In the accompanying drawings, Fi gnre l is a front elevation of a velocimeter and odoineter embodying the various portions of my invention hereinbefore mentioned. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken at the line m w, Fig. 5. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a view of that end of those devices incre particularly relating to indicating and recording velocity, which is on the right hand in Figs. l and 5, andin front of the line y y, Fig. 5. Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a detatched exaggerated view, in perspective, of the automatic adjustable traveling nut or sleeve and roller employed in connection with the conc to indicate the velocity'. Fig. 5,

Sheet 4, is a top view of said velocimeter. Fig. 6, Sheet 4, is a rear view ofthe gear I, Fig. 5, and ot' the device for confining and utilizing the action of the spring K within certain fixed limits. Fig. 7, Sheet 4, is a vertical transverse section through the center of the wheels I and G and spring K, exhibited in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a view of a sheet of paper, which, having passed through the veloeimeter, has received punctures and records from the same, and ot' the device for attaching the paper to the rollers which supply and take up the paper. Fig. 9 shows a roller for supplementing the action of the roller which moves the paper under the recordingpencil.

Motion from the machine whose velocit-y is to be measured is imparted to the velocimeter and odometer through'the reciprocating mov ing arm A, FiO. 1,iixed to axle I3. To the latter are nxed two arms, C, Fig. 1, and C', Fig. 2, the former of which is pivoted to and imparts motion to the actuatin g-pawl I), which engages the ratchet wheel G, fixed upon a sleeve, around which turns a sleeve to which the. gear-wheel I, Fig. 5, is attached. One end of spring K, located between gear-wheel I and the ratchet-wheel G, is attached to the latter, and the other end to the sleeve of gear I. The pawl causes the ratchet to revolve, and, winding up the sprin Y, sets gear I in motion. Gear I meshes into pinion M, which latter meshes into pinion 0 and turns gear P on the same shaft. The latter gear meshes into gear Q, which meshes into pinion It on the sleeve S, Fig. 5, which, through clutch T, operates a bevelgear, U, which, meshing into a bevelgear, V, causes the cone W to revolve. This cone revolves at a fixed rate of speed, which, in the presentinstance, is five revolutions per minute. The reciprocating arm C actuates two pawls, E and F, Fi gs. l and 2. The former pawl engages a ratchet-wheel, Z, which turns pinion l on the same standard. The latter meshes into gear 2, Fig. 5. A spring, H, iies between gear 2 and gear 3, the outside end of which spring is attached to gear 2, and the other end to a sleeve attached to gear 3, and turning loosely on the shaft 4. Gear 3 meshes into pinion 5, which meshes into gear leading to an ordinary clock-escapeinent. Gear 3 also meshes intopinion 6, iixed on shaft 7 which latter turns worm 8, Figs. l, 3, 5, which'tnrns gear 9 and roller 10 of the recording device.

It is evident, therefore, that the recording device moves at a fixed rate of speed, which is regulated by the clock-escapement aforementioned.

As already stated, the cone revolves at a iixed rate of speed. This is effected by means of a pinion, 11, Fig. 1, fixed on the same shaft with gear Q, which meshes into gear 12, the latter being fixed on the shaft 7. Thus both gears I and 3 are regulated so as to work in unison.

The spring` K, Fig. 5, is regulated to run but six minutes after the machine whose velocity is to be measured has ceased operating, and, in order to prevent the stoppage of its gear l, &c., from stopping the clock, and shaft 7 from operating because of the fact that pinion 11 meshes into gear l2, gear Q turns loosely on its shaft.

A ratchet, 13, is attached to the side of pinion 11, and a pawl, 65, is attached to the side of the gear Q, so, when the spring K stops operating, the clock and shaft 7 continue to turn, as the pinion 11 is free to turn with gear 12 without revolving gear Q as the pawl 65 slips over the teeth ofthe ratchet 13.

The spring K, if allowed to run down, would be too feeble to revolve the cone until some time after the machine whose velocity is to be measured ha-s been set in motion, and thus the velocimeter would fail to record.

To obviate this, l employ a device consisting of an arm, 14, Fig. 6, which is attached to the rear end of the sleeve of ratchet-wheel G, and rotates with the latter around shaft J. To the. upper end of this arm 14 is pivoted a loose adjusting-arm, 15, having a pin, 16, on its under side, which pin runs in a coiled channel, 66, in the side of gear I. At the outside end of the coil is a stop, 17, and at the inside end of same astop, 1S.

The operation of this device is as follows: In winding up the spring K, the arm 14, with loose arms 15, rotates with ratchet-wheel G, and the pin 16 of the loose arm runs in the coiled channel toward the center ot' the gearwheel I, and continues so to do till it strikes stop 1S, when it and the ratchet-wheel are prevented froni further rotation, and thus the spring K is prevented from being unduly wound up. As the spring unwinds the gearwheel I revolves, and, the ratchet-wheel G and arm 14 standing still, the pin 16 runs in the channel 66 toward the outside of the gearwheel I. Vhen the pin reaches the stop 17 the gear I can revolve :no farther, and hence the spring will be no farther unwound. As the present machine is constructed, this will occur six minutes after the machine whose velocity is to be measured has ceased to operate.

The reciprocating pawl E is constructed as follows: At the end of arm C is pivoted a guidearm, 19, through which is a longitudinal hole. Through the forward end of this hole slides a rod, 20, which extends forward and terminates in the pawl E. Upon the rear end of this rod, and within the guide-arm, is a shoulder, 67,

to prevent the rod from slipping away from the guide-arm. Upon the middle portion of the same rod is a nut, 21, working on a screwthread cut upon the middle of the rod 20. A spiral spring, 22, incloses the rod between the nut and the guide-arm, and, pressing apart the guide-arm and the nut, keeps the pawl end of the rod in place over the ratchet-wheel.

By screwing the nut forward or backward along the rod 20, the power of the spring is diminished or increased.

The purpose and use of this spring, and the device whereby the rod is permitted to slide backward or forward, are to avoid breakage of the machine when the spring H has become too strong to be safely wound up any more, and also to graduate the amount of winding up the spring shall receive, and, consequently, the amount of power it shall impart to the machine.

When the sprin ghas been sutiiciently wound, the resistance oit'ered by the teeth of thc ratchet Z is suiiicient to overcome the resistance of spring 22, and thus as arm 19 advances and pawl E is forced against the teeth of ratchet-wheel Z the spring yields, and the rear end of the rod slides back through the guide-arm. Th us until the spring H is again partially unwound, and while the machine whose velocity is to be measured is in motion, the arm C is oscillating back and forth without moving the rod 20, and without injuring the teeth of the ratchet-wheel or breaking the spring H. The pawls 23, 24, and 25, placed respectively over ratchet-wheels G, Z, and 26, prevent their respective wheels from slipping back.

The actuating-pawl D is constructed and operated precisely at pawl E, and the purpose of its spring and devices, whereby the rod can, under sufficient pressure, compress the spring, is to permit the pawl to cease winding when the arm 15 has reached stop 18, Fig. 6. The actuating-pawl F is solid throughout, as, while the machine whose velocity is to be measured is operating, it is necessary that the gear26 should continually communicatemotion to the screw-shaft 39 and to the odometer.

The odometer, in the present instance placed over the veloeimeter, receives its mot-ion from gear-wheel 27 by means of a coiled thread,28, on the side of the periphery of the gear 27. This thread meshes into and turns a gear, 29, which latter turns shaft 30 and worin 3l. Worm 31 turns the gear 32, which ope ates the odometer.

The odometer, as shown, indicates tens, hundreds, and thousands of miles.

Motion is com municated from ratchet-wheel 26 to gear-wheel 27, by means of a pin, 33, extending from the side of the ratchetwheel engaging a coiled spring, 34, which is attached to the sleeve of gear-wheel 27. The purpose of this intervening spring is to save gear 27 from the constant recurrence of the shocks which ratchet-wheel 26 continually receives from the actuating-pawl F.

Gear 27 meshes into pinion 35, which turns shaft 36 and bevel gear 37 5 the latter, meshing into bevel-gear 38, turns screw-shaft- 39. In this shaft is cut a' screw-channel extending around that portion of its length which is in front of the cone. Upon this shaft runs a traveling sleeve or nut, 68, having within a pin or thread which ts the thread of the screwshaft. Upon this sleeve is a roller, 40, whose periphery, being wide, is somewhat arched. The devices connecting this roller to the sleeve consist of a ring, 42, pivoted on arms 43, projecting in opposite directions from the sleeve; secondly, of the roller 40, pivoted on the opposite arms 44, projecting from the outside or' said ring, springs being inserted within the roller, each spring 44 encircling one of the pvoted arms 44, and attached at' one end, and near the said arms, to said roller, and at the other to the outside of the ring, and on opposite sides thereof, at a convenient point, 45, between the arms 44. n

The function of the device-wiz., ring 42, arms 44, springs 44', and arms 45', whereby roller 40 is connected to sleeve 68-is on the principle of a universal joint, to enable the roller to change the plane ot' its revolution with reference to the screw-shaft 39. A cha-n ge in the speed of revolution of the screwshait will necessitate the roller to seek a new point along the periphery of the cone, where the distance traveled over by the periphery of the cone and otl the roller will be alike. lf the plane of revolution of the roller were at such times immovably iixed at right angles to the screw-shai't, the roller, in seeking its new position on the cone would grind and in jure the face of its own periphery and that of the cone, but, if permitted by a proper device, it will, in seeking its new position on the cone, tilt, so that the plane of its revolution is oblique to the screw-shaft, and it will, without grinding, run along the cone, describing a spiral track around the latter till it reaches that point on the cone where the distance traveled over by its periphery and that ot' the cone is the same.

A frame, 46, Figs. 3 and 15,`whose arms it over the ends ot' the sleeve, supports, in front ot' the screw-shaft '39, a pointer, 41, and a holder for pen or pencil.

It may be here remarked th at the screw-shaft 39 is so placed with reference to the roller 40 that the line described on the cone by the points where the roller, when moved along the screw-shaft, impin ges on the cone shall always be equidistant from the shaft. The device for presenting a sheet of paper to the pencil or pen ofthe velocimeter consists, ijrst, of the roller 47, Fig. 3, which supplies the paper to the upper roller 4S. A spring, 49, presses against one end of the roller, thereby preventing the paper from unwinding from it, except when drawn ott' by the power ot' roller 10. Roller 43, placed directly under the pencil or pen, presents the paper to the same. 50, Fig. 5, is a roller for winding up the paper, said roller being actuated so as to keep the paper taut between rollers 47 and 4S, and 4S and itself.' This tautness is effected by a spring, 5l,

Fig. 5, which is wound up by a crank, as shown, and, through the intermediate gear 52, Fig. 3, turns roller 50 and winds thereon the paper. Any method of fastening the paper to the roller 47 and 54 maybe adopted. In the present instance, a longitudinal slot is cut in the roller, and the paper being placed against the roller, a rod, 53, Fig. 8, a little longer than the roller, is itted into the slot and, the ends being passed into holes in the disks at the ends of the roller, holds the paper fast. The roller- 10, as stated, is turned by worm 8 and gear 9. In the present instance these, and the gear which operates them, are so graduated that the roller l() revolves once an hour. Its periphery is studded with rows of pins at regular distances apart. In the present case there are six longitudinal rows, the distance between each representing ten minutes. |The pins in the longitudinal rows are placed in each row directly behind each other, and these revolvein parallel planes transverse to the axis of the roller. The distance between each transverse row represents, in connection with the points 41, a diierence of ten miles per hour in the velocity of the machine whose speed is to be measured, and any part of the .distance between each transverse row will represent a proportionate difference of velocity. The pins of roller come into contact with and puncture the paper in parallel lines transverse to and longitudinal to the length ot' the paper. Ashereatter shown, the spaces between these lines read across the paper, in connection with the track of the pencil attached to the pointer, enable us to determine the velocities attained by the machine whose speed is to be measured, and read with the length of t-he paper, in connection with the Atrack of the pencil, enable us to determine when the velocities were attained, and how long continued. The pins also perform another function, t'. e., that ot' moving the paper along.

In order to insure the pins entering the paper, a roller, 54, Fig. 3, is placed immediately in front of the roller l0, but beneath the paper. In this roller are transverse channels 69, into which the pins, after puncturing the paper, enter, the roller 54 affording a back or support to the paper while being punctured.

The pencil or pen is kept pressed against the paper by means of a spring, 55, Fig. 3, one end of which is attached to the pen-holder, the other being shaped up at 56 so as to be capable of receiving the swinging rod 57, Figs. 1,3, and 5. When the pencil is in use the swinging rod is brought under the spring, as in Fig. 3. When not in use the end 56 of spring is placed under the rod, and thereby the pen is held from oii' the paper.

In order to regulate the oscillations of the balance-wheel 5S of the clock, a pin, 59, Fig. 5, is inserted in said wheel. A straight spring, 60, projected from a fork, 6], Figs. 1 and 5,

extends over the pin, and prevents it from rising beyond Xed limits. By slipping the adjustable fork up or down upon rest 62, Figs. l and 2, the spring 60 is raised or lowered, thereby altering the liberty of the balancewheel to oscillate. Without spring 60, when both actuating-springs K and H are simultaneously in action, the balance-wheel, from the increased pressure, would oscillate too far, thus causing the clock to move too slowly.

The operation of particular parts of my invention having been already described, I will proceed to describe its general operation.

Motion from the lnachine whose velocity is to be measured is communicated by proper mechanical devices to the velocimeter through the arm A. Arm A aetuates axle B and thereby simultaneously sets in reciprocating motion the aetuating-pawls D, E, and F. AThe pawl D winds up spring K, which, through the intermediate gearing, revolves the cone. Pawl E winds up spring H, which,through the intermediate gear, sets the clock in motion, and also through the other intermediate gear connected therewith turns roller l0, and therebyv causes the paper to be steadily passed under the point of the pencil. Pawl F sets in motion gear 27, which, through intermediate gear, causes the screwshaft to revolve. The speed of revolution of this serewshaft will vary precisely as the speed of the machine whose velocity is to be measured varies. rEhe position of the traveling-roller 40 and pencil along the periphery of the cone will be determined according to the speed with which the screw-shaft revolves. rlhe roller will always seek that place upon the cone which drives it with the same velocity as that of the screwshaft. Thus, if the roller is at apoint indicating that a velocity of ten miles is attained by the machine whose speed is to be measured, should the velocity be increased to twenty miles per hour, the roller will advance upon the larger periphery of the cone and stop when its revolutions equal that of the screwshaft. rlhe screw-channel in the shaft 39 forces the roller to thus travel along the shaft. A proportionate change of position of the traveling-roller along the screw-shaft will follow any change in the velocity at which said shaft may revolve. The pencil thus records by its marks upon the paper the measure of the velocities. The paper being punctured longitudinally into divisions, each line of punctures parallel to the length of the paper, counting from left to right, representing an increase of velocity of ten miles per hour, and the position of the pencil-track at any point between these two lines indicating a corresponding proportionate increase of velocity, it is evident that the record made by the pencil will indicate the precise velocities attained. If desired, the spaces between these longitudinal lines of punctures may be graduated into subordinate spaces representing single miles, or miles and fractions thereof. The paper being graduated by transverse rows of punctures representing ten minutes each, the exact time of starting the machine whose speed is to be measured being known, the exact time when each velocity was attained and the length of time such velocity continued areindicatedby the pencil-track, as also is the length of time when the machine whose speed is to be measured was at rest, provided, in reference to the last statement, the clock-work is made to run as long as the machine stops. In the present case, the clock will run and the paper pass under the roller two hours after the machine has stopped. In like manner, the spaces upon the paper may be graduatedinto spaces representingminutes, or minutes and fractions thereof. In Fig. S is shown a section of the paper of the velocimeter, and which has been presented to the pencil during the operation of the machine whose speed is to be measured.

It will there be seen that during the iirst ten minutes after the machine or locomotive had commenced to move it attained a speed ot' thirty-three miles an hour; that during the next ten minutes its rate of velocity remained the same; that then the velocity suddenly decreased to twenty miles an hour, which rate of speed continued during the next ten minutes; that during the next five minutes the velocity steadily decreased to zero; that the machine then stopped fifteen minutes, during which time, bythe clock, the paper was steadily passed under the pencil; thatimmediately after the locomotive again started, and within the next ten minutes, its speed rose to thirty miles per hour and steadily continued at that rate for one hour, that during the next fifteen minutes it sunk to zero, when this paper was removed from the velocimeter.

To more easily adjust a new supply of paper to the rollers, and inspect or remove the paper upon which the pen has registered velocities, &c., the frame 69, supporting rollers 48 49 50, gear 52 52, with shaft and winding spring, is so made that it may be drawn out from the velocimeter-box, when the aforesaid adjustment and inspection may be readily made.

This sheet of paper, with the record of velocities, is to be inspected only by those whose business it is to see that the engineer or machine-driver does his duty, and is intended to operate as a check upon the recklessness, carelessness, or stupidity of such engineer or driver. rlhe box containing the velocimeter can be locked and the key kept by the Overseer, the engineer having no access to the same.

A scale of velocities is placed behind a glass in the front side of the velocimeter and directly above the index-point Ll of the velocimeter. The engineer can thus perceive at any time how fast the machine he is operating is ruiming.

There are advantages in employing two springs, as K and H, instead of a single one. If a single spring were employed it would have to be made of much greater capacity than either of those now used. If one spring were used, that one must be at work all the time, and the cone would therefore be kept revolving as long as the clock was at Work. Whereas, by the use of two springs,`I am enabled to continue the clock in operation and to cause the paper to register the passage of time after the machine Whose velocity is to be measured has stopped and the cone has come to rest.

The device of clutch T, sleeve S, spring 63, and pin 64, Fig. 3, becomes of service whenever the speed of the machine whose velocity is to be measured is so great that the roller, after running up to the largest periphery of the cone, strikes a stop and is driven by the screw-shaft faster than the cone is driven by the sleeve and gear. In such a case, were the cone unable to revolve faster than the xed rate of speed at which it is driven by the clock-work, the roller, revolving` faster than the cone, would grind the surface of the latter 5 but as soon as the roller reaches the largest periphery of the cone, and attempts to grind, the former disengages the clutch of the cone from the sleeve, compresses the spring 63, and pushes back pin 64, through its guideway in pinion It. The pin causes the sleeve to revolve with pinion R, and the spring, Whenever the speed of the cone is diminished to its normal rate of revolution, re-engages the sleeve in the clutch, and again revolves the cone.

In connection with the traveling roller a disk might with slight changes of construction be substituted for a cone. The principle of operation is precisely the same in both, and the disk is practically an ,equivalent of the cone. By sufficiently enlarging the periphery of the larger end of the cone it is merged into a disk. So, also, the screw-shaft 39 might be revolved by the clock-work, and the cone revolved as the screw-shaft is now operated, without varying the principle upon which the cone and roller operate, and without impairing the ability of the velocimeter to indicate velocity and to record the saine.

Other devices for enabling the roller to alter the position of its periphery with reference to the cone may be substituted in place of arm 43, ring 42, arms 44, and springs 44', without changing the principle of its operation.

My invention is applicable to the measuring and recording of the velocity of every description of steam or road vehicle, revolving shafts, stationary engines, and the like.

The velocimeter as herein described is constructed more particularly for railroadvehicles.

By slightly varying its construction it may be made applicable to other descriptions of vehicles, machinery,shafting, Src.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a screw-shaft, a revolving nut, and cone or frustums thereof or disk, when applied to a velocimetcr.

2. The combination of screwshaft 39, revolving nut or sleeve 68, roller 40, and cone W, substantially as and for the purposes specined.

3. An actuating reciprocating pawl for communicating motion to a ratchet-wheel of a vclocimeten and composed of rod 20, nut 2l,

spring 22, and arm I9, Fig. 2.

4. The combination of actuating-pand F, ratchet 26, pawl 25, spring 34, gear 27 35, shaft 36, gear 37 38, screw-shaft 39, and a traveling roller.

5. The combination of a cone, or frustums thereof, or disk and a screw-shaft and a sleeve or nut traveling on said shaft, and a roller, when said sleeve or nut is attached to said roller by appropriate mechanism, whereby said roller is free to change the angle which its plane of revolution makes with the screwshaft.

6. A traveling roller, in combination with a sleeve, said roller being secured on said sleeve by any device suitable for rendering the periphery of the roller adjustable to the direction in which it moves along the cone.

7. The combination ofl the. roller 40, spring 44, ring 42, and sleeve 68 revolving on the screw-shaft 39, and in conjunction with a revolving cone, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the cone and roller and a device with pen or pencil, 85e., for recordin g, substantially as set forth.

9. The paper-puncturing roller for moving the paper along and graduating it for reading the velocities and time registered by the velocimeter.

l0. In combination with a device for holding the paper against the pen or pencil, the puneturing-roller for moving the paper along and graduating it for reading the velocities registered by the pencil.

Il. The combination of the actuating puncturing-roller and the supplementary roller 54 and any suitable device for presenting the paper to the pen.

l2. The device for allowing the roller to increase the speed of the cone and to avoid grinding, consisting of gear U and V and clutch T, sleeve S, spring 63, pin 64, pinion R.

13. The combination of actuating-pand D, ratchet-Wheel Gr, paWl 23, spring K, gear I M O I Q It, sleeve S, with or without clutch T, gear U V, for operating the cone IV.

14. The combination of the actuating-pawl E, ratchet-wheel Z, pawl 24, gear l 2, spring H, gear 3 6, shaft 7, wormvS, gear 9, and punctnring-roller l0, for presenting the paper to the pen of the velocimeter, and for graduating it for reading the velocities registered by the pen.

15. The actuating-pand D, ratchet-wheel G, pawl 23, spring K, gear I M O P Q, It, sleeve S, clutch T, gear U V, being the devices for actuating the cone W', in combination with the devices for actuating roller l0, consisting of actuatin g-pawl E, ratchet-wh eel Z, pawl 24, gear l 2, spring H, gear 3 6, shaft 7, worm S,

17. The peculiar device i'or breaking` the connection between the machinery which operates the cone and the machinery which opl erates the paper, said device consisting ol' gear 12, pinion 1l, ratchet 153, pawl (35, and gear Q.

EINYIN (YILUVLEY.

Witnesses:

D. P. KENNEDY, SMIL. F. CARY, Jr. 

